albescens

5. Ssp. albescens (Rothschild, 1895)¹⁴⁾ [♂, ♀]

(Distribution) [Map 63]

MYANMAR: Mawlamyine; THAILAND: Yala; W. MALAYSIA: [Kedah], [Pinang (= Penang)], [Perak] Batu Kurau, Maxwell (=Larut) Hill, Taiping, Ipoh, Simpang Pulai, Gopeng, Kg. Sahom, Cameron LL., Lumut, Tapah Hills, [Pahang] Ulu Piah, Cameron HL., Fraser’s Hill, Genting HL., [Selangor] Kerling, Kuala Kubu Bharu, Templer Park, Gombak Setia, Kuala Lumpur, Ampang, Ulu Langat, [Negeri Sembilan]. (Type locality: Malay Pen.)

(Episodes of discovery and original description)

Grosse (1881) was the first to describe this subspecies when he described a ♀ from the Malay Peninsula. Later, Rothschild (1895) separated it from the original subspecies (from Borneo, Balabak, Sumatra, and Natuna Islands) and described it as subspecies albescens, because the ♀ was quite different from those from other regions. The specimens used for the original description were 14♂♂ and 3♀♀. The subspecies name albescens means “banded white” in Latin.

(Characteristics)

This subspecies, because of its magnificent size and beauty, is the most popular Malayan representative.

(Spotted pattern)

♂: It is difficult to distinguish this subspecies from the others, but many individuals have a partial fusion of the two green wedge-shaped patches on inner margin of FW and a white spot on the apex of HW. On underside, the white spots on submarginal areas of both FW and HW are larger than other subspecies.

♀: The subapical white streaks on FW are the largest and most conspicuous of the subspecies. The white spots on submarginal area of HW are also large. On the underside, the white streaks, patches, and spots are very large, making them conspicuous and easy to distinguish from other subspecies.

(Variation)

♂-f. wongensis Barlow, 1972¹⁾: [Particular aberration] The Green patches on FW and HW are very extended. The underside is very aberrant, on FW and HW there are large and diffuse iridescent patches and areas colored an iridescent blue.